Interchangeable electrical socket



Aug. 23, 1932. w. H. FABREY 1,873,191

INTERCHANGEABLE ELECTRICAL SOCKET Filed Nov. 5. 1927 amnion IV Fabrgc w WM Willi! Patented Aug. 23, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM E. FAIBREY, OF SCHENEGTADY, NEW YORK, ASBIGNOB TO WEBER ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF SCHENECTAD Y, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK INTEBCEANGEABLE ELECTRICAL SOCKE'];

Application filed November 5, 1927. Serial No. 281,849.

This invention relates to new and useful im rovements in interchan cable electrical soc ets, and more particu arly to means whereby such sockets may be interchangeably connected to various types of supports.

An important object of the invention resides in the provision of a connection for porcelain sockets with various types of supports which dispenses with the usual screws employed for connecting the sockets with their supports, and to further provide a connection by which the parts of the fixture may beassembled more rapidly and with greater ease than has been possible with the type employing screws as connecting means.

Another important object of the invention resides in the provision of means for detachabl connecting the two parts of the socket an yet provide for an extremely secure connection between the socket body and support when coupled whereby it will support a fixture of considerable weight suspended from the socket member.

A further object is to provide a connector of the foregoing character in which spring arms are employed for detachably retaining the arts of the socket in assembled relation and aving means which will prevent the detachment of the two parts of the socket by 3 mere flexure of the spring arms whereby the socket parts may be more or less permanently connected and yet will permit detachment of the socket parts when the means associated with the s ring arms are manipulated.

A still urther object of the invention is to provide an improved support in the form of a base which may be interchangeably connect ed to the socket to partially house the same so as to provide a compact fixture.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the followin description.

In the drawing forming a part of the description, and wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved fixture.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section through the same.

Figure 3 is a erspective view of the improved base, and

Figure 4 1s a erspective view of the improved socket b y.

Figure 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the slot construction of the socket body, and

Figure 6 is a transverse section taken through the assembled socket member and modified base.

The improvements disclosed herein are in- I tended primarily for use in connection with socket bodies ofinsulating material employed for housing electrical switches of different types,'and which heretofore have been suspended from cap pieces or bases by means of Q screws extended through the caps and threaded into the socket bodies. Such types of socket bodies do not permit of quick detachable connection between the parts. Although my improvements are illustrated in connection with this particular type of switch socket, it is to be understood that I do not restrict the application of the invention to such types of sockets, as such construction may be employed in conjunction with sockets of other types, as for example, lamp sockets and the like.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, the numeral 5 designates a socket body constructed from insulating material, such as porcelain, as is the customar practice. This body is preferably cylindrical and tubular to house the electrical switch mechanism 6 of any desired type, it being here shown as a pull-chain type, which includes a chain guide or funnel 7 adapted to project through a notch or cut-out portion 8 at the inner end of the body. The interior surface of the body 5 is provided substantially intermediate its ends with an annular shoulder 8 as shown in Figure 2.

The exterior circumference of the bod 5 at diametrically-disposed points is provi ed with a pair of grooves 9 extending from the inner end 10 thereof for the reception of a pair of arms secured to a support, as will be more fully set forth hereinafter. Each of these grooves 9 is provided in its bottom with a shoulder 11 formed by equipping the bottom of the groove-9 with an elevated curved m.

surface 12, which merges into the end of the body as best shown in Figure 5. A groove 13 extends through the elevated surface 12 longitudinally of the groove 9 and is cut through the shoulder 11. The bottom of each groove 9 behind the shoulder 11 is provided with an opening 14 extending entirely through the bod and into the interior thereof, as shown in igure 4. The outer end of the body 1s provided with an exterior circumferential annular groove 5' for the attachment or suspension of a fixture (not shown). This socket body 5 is adapted to be interchangeably connected with supports of different types, one of said supports being shown in Figures 1 and 2 in the form of the usual cap 15.

This cap is constructed of insulating material, preferabl porcelain, as is customary, and is equippe with a central aperture in which is secured an interiorly screw threaded collar 16 for threaded engagement with an electrical conduit or support, as is well understood.

The lower face of this cap 15 is provided with a pair of diametrically dis osed recesses or seats 17 of rectangular con guration for the reception of right angularly disposed ends 18 of a pair of spring arms 19 which are secured in said recesses by means of rivets 19 or other suitable fastenings.

This pair of spring arms 19 is adapted to extend in parallel relation from the end of the cap and each arm is provided with an outwardly flared end 20. This facilitates gu1d ing and separating the two arms as they are forced over the shoulders 11 of the socket body and into the grooves 9 thereof.

Each of the arms 19 adjacent its free end 1s provided with an inwardly extending offset portion 21, having a threaded aperture for the reception of a screw 22 which is adapted to enter its respective aperture or notch 14 in the socket body after the offset portions of the arms 19 have been expanded over the shoulders and seat in the grooves 9 behind the same.

It will, of course, be understood that the openings 14 provided in the bottoms of the grooves 9 may be simply notches which do not extend entirely through the socket bod 5. i

A shown in Figure 3, another form of support to be used interchangeably with the cap 15, assumes the form of a base 23 of insulating material, such as porcelain, and is adapted to have spring arms 19, the same as disclosed herein for the cap, secured thereto in a manner similar to the attachment of the arms to the cap 15, as will be more fully explained hereinafter. The base 23 is provided with diametrically disposed slots 24 in a flange portion 25, as is customary, for the I attachment of the base to a suitable support.

The boss portion 26 of the base is provided with a central opening 27, which has its end within the hollow portion 26, enlarged to form a cylindrical socket 28 andan annular shoulder 29 therein. The opening through the base is provided with diametrically disposed web portions 30 into which merge inwardly extending diametrically disposed seats 31, each having a rectangular recess for the reception of the right angularly disposed ends 18 of the spring arms 19; rivets 32 or other suitable fastenings being passed through these angularly disposed portions of the arms as well as through the insulator base to rigidly secure the arms thereto. As the spring arms 19 for the base are identically the same as those of the cap plate, a further description thereof is deemed unnecessary, except so far as their particular relation with the base is concerned. It will be noted that the inner portions of the spring arms disposed within the socket 28 of the base are normally arranged inside of the circle defined by the inner circular wall of the socket 28 and are adapted to be pressed outwardly into grooves 33 of this circular surface of the socket when the socket member 5 is passed between the offset portions 21 of the arms 19.

In assembling the socket body 5 with either the cap 15 or the base 23, each of which constitutes a support, the inner end of the socket member is arranged with its grooves 9 in alignment with the spring arms 19 and is forced between them. These spring arms are properly guided into these grooves by the flared portions 20, and as the arms yield outwardly their ofi'set portions 21 are permitted to pass over the shoulders 11, while the screws 22 associated therewith, if partially driven home, will pass through the grooves 13 in the curved faces 12 of the shoulders 11. The offset portions of the spring arms after passage over the abutinents, snap down into the grooves 9 so that the screws 21 will be in direct alignment with the notches l4 and will be disposed therein if the screws are partially driven home through the offset portions of the spring arms. These screws can then be driven all the way home so as to extend further into the notches 14 whereby the socket body 5 will be rigidly secured to its support and cannot be detached therefrom unless the screws 22 are loosened sufficiently to permit withdrawal of the socket body from between the two spring pressed arms 19. It will, therefore, be apparent that fixtures of any weight can be supported or suspended from the socket body 5 without any danger of the body becoming accidentally detached from its support. It is to be noted that the shoulders 11 extend outwardly of the grooves 9 to a considerable extent and will consequently form quite an anchorage for the offset portions of the spring arms of the support, so that this construction of itself and without the aid of the screws 22 will permit relatively heavy fixtures to be suspended from the socket body without danger of causing its disengagement from its support. Loosening of the screws enables the socket body to be readily detached from its support by simply flexing the free end of one of the spring arms outwardly and pulling the socket body and support apart, so that the oflset portions 21 of the arms and associated screws 22 will slip over the shoulders 11 and out of the grooves 9.

It is to be understood that various changes in the size, shape and arrangement of the various parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An electrical fixture comprising a support, springs arms secured thereto and having o'fi'set portions with outwardly flared ends, screws carried by said ofi'set portions, a socket member having grooves for the reception of said arms, shoulders in said grooves behind which said ofi'set portions and screws are adapted to engage, and said shoulders having grooves for the passage of said screws.

2. An electrical fixture comprising a support, arms secured thereto and having offset portions, a socket member having grooves in its exterior surface for the reception of said arms and the bottoms of said grooves having notches for the reception of said offset portions of said arms.

3. An electrical fixture comprising a support, arms secured thereto and having projections, a socket member having grooves for the reception of said arms, shoulders in said grooves behind which said projections are adapted to engage, and said shoulders having grooves for the passage of said projections.

4. An electrical fixture comprising a suport, arms secured thereto and having proections, a socket member having grooves for the reception of said arms, shoulders in said grooves behind which said projections are adapted to engage, said shoulders having grooves for the passage of said projections, and said grooves having notches behind said shoulders for the reception of said projections.

5. An electrical fixture comprising a support, having an opening therethrough, said opening having an enlarged circular end forming an annular shoulder therein, web portions in said opening, seats extending inwardly of said circular end and from said shoulder and joining with said web portions, arms secured in said seats, and a socket member adapted to be received in said enlarged circular end of said opening and engaged by said arms.

6. An electrical fixture comprising a support, arms secured thereto and having projections, a socket member having grooves extending longitudinally of said socket member for the reception of said arms, shoulders in said grooves extending longitudinally of said socket member behind which said projections are adapted to engage, said shoulders having grooves extending longitudinally of said socket member for the passage of said projections, and said grooves having notches behind said shoulders for the reception of said projections.

7. An electrical fixture comprising a support, spring arms secured thereto and having ofi'set portions, a socket member having grooves for the reception of said arms, shoulders in said grooves behind which said offset portions are adapted to engage, and the bottoms of said grooves being inclined to cause spreading of said spring arms as they are moved through said grooves.

8. An electrical fixture comprising a support having a socket opening, web portions in said opening, seats on said web portions, arms secured to said seats, and a socket member adapted to be received in said socket opening and engaged by said arms.

9. An electrical fixture comprising a support, spring arms secured thereto and having projections, a socket member having grooves for the reception of said arms, inclined elevated portions in the bottoms of said grooves forming shoulders therein and behind which said projections are adapted to engage, and said inclined elevated portions having grooves for the passage of said projections.

10. An electrical fixture comprisinga base having a cavity and a seat disposed within said cavity, said seat having recesses therein, arms secured at one end in said recess and projecting beyond said cavity, and a socket member adapted to be received in said cavity and engaged by said arms whereby accidental displacement of the member is prevented.

11. An electrical fixture comprising a base having a cavity and a seat disposed therein, spring arm recesses in the walls of said cavity, spring arms secured to said seats and having portions disposed opposite said recesses, and a socket member adapted to be received in said cavity and to move said arms into said recesses as the socket member is moved into said cavity.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

WILLIAM H. FABREY. 

